The effects of attentional focus and partner responsiveness on sexual responding: replication and extension

• Published in: Archives of sexual behavior Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 361 - 371
• Main Authors: ABRAHAMSON, D. J, BARLOW, D. H, BECK, J. G, SAKHEIM, D. K, KELLY, J. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Kluwer Academic/Plenum 01-08-1985; Kluwer Acacemic/Plenum Publishers
• Subjects: Adult; Attention; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Erotica; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Libido - physiology; Male; Penis - physiology; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Sexual Behavior - physiology; Sexuality. Sexual behavior; Human; Vigilance; Eroticism; Heterosexuality; Social interaction; Dyadic relation; Arousal; Sex; Magnetic recording
• ISSN: 0004-0002; 1573-2800
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01550851

The effects of manipulating attentional focus (self-versus partner-focus) and level of partner responsiveness (high, low, and ambiguous) on sexual responding were examined with sexually functional (N = 8) men. These manipulations were embedded in six standardized 3-minute erotic audiotapes. When the partner was displaying high sexual responsiveness, partner-focus resulted in significantly higher levels of penile responding than did self-focus. Post-stimuli questionnaires indicated that, although not statistically significant, self-reported attentiveness was consistently higher under partner-focus conditions. These findings are discussed in regard to their relevance to the concept of spectatoring as discussed by Masters and Johnson (1970). A comparison to previous research that examined the same variables using videotapes is included.